The Write One

.intoforest { position: relative; margin: 20px auto 0px; background: #606060; height: auto; padding: 40px; width: 480px; min-height: 300px; } .intoforest img { position: absolute; height: 250px; width: 480px; object-fit: cover; left: 0px; top: 0px; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(30%); } .ifoutline { position: relative; min-height: 300px; width: 400px; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; } .intoforest text { display: block; position: relative; color: #e7e7e7; padding: 30px; margin-top: 210px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; line-height: 180%; font-family: roboto; padding-bottom: 20px; } .intoforest lyrics { position: absolute; color: #d3e0e5; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 800; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 10px; width: 150px; line-height: 200%; padding: 20px; } .intoforest tag { display: block; margin: 20px auto; padding: 10px; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 5px; text-align: center; color: white; } Runnin Runnin Runnin from my heart Lena shook her head, her sharp eyes looking him over briefly. "Good. At least one of you has some sense." She smiled, though, when he handed her the medications she'd asked him to get. "Thank you. I appreciate this more then I can voice. And good. You look dead on your feet, Crane." She waved them off in dismissal, and Lil smiled as she led them to where she vaguely remembered Crane had been put up to stay. They'd just cleaned out the room for more people to have space, with the intent of putting more then just Kyle in there, but for now, they only had the space cleared and a mattress, sleeping bag, and a duffle of clothes she'd helped size up for him to change into. Lil made a mental note to clean up the place a little while he was gone on one of his errands - at least sweep up the trash and dirt and dump it out the window at any rate. "I know its not much, but we just cleared this room, and the mattress isn't too bad either." She stepped aside for him to get a look for himself, though he didn't seem to care, flopping on the bed without even taking his shoes off. She smiled faintly before taking a nearby armchair and plopping it in the doorway as best and quietly as she could given her small frame. If anyone wanted to wake him, they'd have to go through her first. She sat in the chair, and looked at her watch to note the time, setting an alarm for an hour from then, before pulling a book from her bag to read. The hour passed quickly with her head stuck in the book, and soon enough, her watch beeped at her incessantly. She jumped when it started, quickly shutting it off before she marked her space in her book and moved the chair back to where it belonged. Then came the question of waking the man without scaring him half to death. A gentle shake. Right. She quietly walked over to the sleeping man, looking him over briefly before gently resting her hand on his shoulder and shaking it. "Kyle...? Nap time's over." MONTY

.mysteries { position: relative; background: #2a2a2a; margin: 20px auto 0; width: 450px; overflow: hidden; } .mysteries-image-hold { position: relative; } .mysteries img { width: 450px; height: 350px; object-fit: cover; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(130%); } .mysteries-image-hold:before { content:""; background: rgb(61,2,2); background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(61,2,2,1) 0%, rgba(205,86,86,1) 52%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); position: absolute; width: 450px; height: 350px; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: multiply; } .mysteries-image-hold:after { background: rgb(42,42,42); background: linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(42,42,42,1) 0%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); content:""; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; height: 400px; width: 450px; left: 0px; } .mysteries-inner { padding: 60px; color: #ccc; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; line-height: 180%; } .mysteries-lyrics { position: absolute; padding: 0 30px; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; margin-top: -70px; z-index: 2; color: #eee; } .mysteries-lyrics b, .mysteries-lyrics-bottom b { font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #fff; } .mysteries-lyrics span { position: absolute; font-size: 100px; z-index: 1; color: #ccc; top: -22px; width: 450px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 80%; opacity: 0.2; text-align: left; left: -2px; } .mysteries-lyrics-bottom { position: relative; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; z-index: 2; color: #eee; text-align: right; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-right: 30px; float: right; } .mysteries-inner::first-letter { float: left; font-size: 50px; display: inline-block; padding: 30px; padding-top: 40px; color: #fff; } You can't save me... It's my time... She snorted. Snerked. Then outright laughed at first the chittering noise that reminded her of a rodent-like noise, then at the confused as hell expression he gave as follow up. "What the hell was that?" It wasn't the hysterical laughter from earlier, when they had a fence between each other and the rain pouring down on her. Gah. She was so embarressed by that display, even now. Mercifully it'd stay between them. Hell, this whole situation probably would stay between them at this rate. Who'd even believe her if she told them who she'd met and what state he was in? Still, laughter was better then crying. But it was cut short by his follow up comment, and the mood turned somber again, though, if only to her, the air in the room didn't seem quite so heavy to deal with. With distance (and oddly, the thin layer of blanket between them) between them, he didn't seem as scary, and more and more, she was seeing Kyle, not the monster he'd unfortunately become. "Kyle... It was hard to have words to assure him, because it wasn't alright, the situation he found himself in. It wasn't alright what he did at night when he had no control. Those screams, staticy and peaking beyond the range of what the radios could handle... The reminder was there and gone again. Still, his luminescent eyes moved to his arms, which she asked about. Before she could really react, his stomach growled loud enough for her to hear and she lifted an eyebrow. Was he really that hungry that his stomach was just about to eat itself by the sounds of it? "Hungry much?" And then when he tore open the can and saw the contents, he crinkled his nose, which made her laugh again. There was just something comical about a volatile like creature reacting like he was. She tried to stifle it though, for his sake, into the material of the blanket that was helping to warm her up again. "Don't like your mystery prize, Kyle?" Let me save you. MONTY

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If you're goin' through hell keep on going/Don't slow down if you're scared don't show it/ You might get out before the devil even knows you're there "If You're Going Through Hell" - Rodney Atkins . Amelya Shipwright AGE Thirty ALIGNMENT Chaotic Neutral OCCUPATION Thief/Fence SOCIAL STATUS Workers/Outcast RACE Human CANON POINT N/A TIME HERE Her Whole Life CANON/OC OC FANDOM N/A MEMBER GROUP - Local . Amelya's life was fairly ordinary, though for her, it was miserable. The woman felt confined, and she knew there was more to life then being married off, even if that's what her parents wanted for her. It would make their station in life secure, and make sure Amelya was taken care of in the long run. She hated it, and was very vocal about it. The girl and her parents constantly butted heads, and the tension was made worse when her father was injured and couldn't work. Theft or selling herself were the two options, alongside her mother and older sister. While the other two chose the latter, she went for the former, taking too much pride in herself to submit to a man for money. It was through her thieving that she gained a good amount of skill in stealth, but the beginning was fraught with encounters with the guards. This left her in the jail for a night, leaving her with a warm meal at least and a roof over her head. But it wasn't providing for her family. Every night in jail was another lesson learned, and she was captured less and less. Eventually, Chief Nichol Strongsteel extended her an offer to go undercover for them. She would be paid and protected, and she said she would think about it. The first war came, leaving the city in disarray and a prime target for many criminals. It definitely left many shops closed, and Amelya found food to be a good material to fence, slowly getting better at hawking what she stole to pawnshops and to other interested parties. That is, until one night, when someone she didn't recognise cornered her in an alley and beat and sexually assaulted her. It was a message. A message to her father and sister to pay their dues for the drugs they'd been addicted to. Amelya took Chief Strongsteel's offer, and began working to gain the attention of the Rogue's Guild. It worked, and she was able to keep an eye on what came and went through the Guild. She became known as Amy Ross there, and she fit in well. In fact, members helped teach her how to read and write, as well as how to properly do numbers on paper. As she became more proficient and trusted in the guild, she learned more and more of the drug trade through her contacts, and bit by bit chipped away at some in the city, handing over the evidence she'd gathered to the constables and investigators. When the Civil War came, Amelya kept her head down, doing her job even as her main protector, Nichol, left to fight. Nightmares plagued her from her attack, and she just wished he'd return. They'd grown close, but he didn't return her feelings, and she didn't blame him. She was tainted. Finally, the man returned, and she was able to continue her work, knowing the man had her back. And that is what she's been doing to this day. . The Write One AGE - 33 TIMEZONE - EST FACE CLAIM: Art THEONS @ SHINE

.intoforest { position: relative; margin: 20px auto 0px; background: #606060; height: auto; padding: 40px; width: 480px; min-height: 300px; } .intoforest img { position: absolute; height: 250px; width: 480px; object-fit: cover; left: 0px; top: 0px; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(30%); } .ifoutline { position: relative; min-height: 300px; width: 400px; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; } .intoforest text { display: block; position: relative; color: #e7e7e7; padding: 30px; margin-top: 210px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; line-height: 180%; font-family: roboto; padding-bottom: 20px; } .intoforest lyrics { position: absolute; color: #d3e0e5; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 800; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 10px; width: 150px; line-height: 200%; padding: 20px; } .intoforest tag { display: block; margin: 20px auto; padding: 10px; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 5px; text-align: center; color: white; } Runnin Runnin Runnin from my heart "I can go with you as far as the safe house that's over that way and meet you when you're done? If you make it out of there alive?" Deep down, she had faith he'd make it out - it was almost like some elusive fact that she couldn't remember but knew was true. She gave a short laugh in agreement. "Yeah, getting him to rest is gonna be a Herculean task, that's for sure." She hoped he didn't ask her to define what a Herculean task was - the language center of her brain had supplied it and it was out of her mouth before she could think if it was correct or not, but in context it seemed right? Fucking hell, this lack of memory sucked hard. Though it told her that she was very language centric, so maybe she liked reading a lot? Hard to say. "Any particular way you want me to wake you up?" She teased, her smile lopsided and playful. It wasn't meant perverse, and her brain didn't even think of that venue of things. He was attractive, yes, but her brain just stayed in squeaky clean areas without an inkling. "And I get it. A lot rides on some of us." Lil stopped outside the medbay as well, opposite Kyle as she swung her tattered bag back around in front of her again and pulled out the supplies that she had snuck out to get, as well as other souvenirs for her efforts. She then nodded to him and stepped through the doorway. "Lena? I'm back and in one piece!" "Its about time. I was about to send Rahim out to find you." The annoyed doctor paused when she saw the offerings Lil presented her with, and her look softened. "Thank you, Lil. I... don't know what to say." MONTY

.mysteries { position: relative; background: #2a2a2a; margin: 20px auto 0; width: 450px; overflow: hidden; } .mysteries-image-hold { position: relative; } .mysteries img { width: 450px; height: 350px; object-fit: cover; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(130%); } .mysteries-image-hold:before { content:""; background: rgb(61,2,2); background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(61,2,2,1) 0%, rgba(205,86,86,1) 52%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); position: absolute; width: 450px; height: 350px; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: multiply; } .mysteries-image-hold:after { background: rgb(42,42,42); background: linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(42,42,42,1) 0%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); content:""; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; height: 400px; width: 450px; left: 0px; } .mysteries-inner { padding: 60px; color: #ccc; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; line-height: 180%; } .mysteries-lyrics { position: absolute; padding: 0 30px; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; margin-top: -70px; z-index: 2; color: #eee; } .mysteries-lyrics b, .mysteries-lyrics-bottom b { font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #fff; } .mysteries-lyrics span { position: absolute; font-size: 100px; z-index: 1; color: #ccc; top: -22px; width: 450px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 80%; opacity: 0.2; text-align: left; left: -2px; } .mysteries-lyrics-bottom { position: relative; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; z-index: 2; color: #eee; text-align: right; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-right: 30px; float: right; } .mysteries-inner::first-letter { float: left; font-size: 50px; display: inline-block; padding: 30px; padding-top: 40px; color: #fff; } You can't save me... It's my time... Assuming on her part... A part of her was glad to see him - he was her friend and she cared about him more then she really wanted to think about. It hurt to get close to people nowadays - look at what happened to her brother, or what happened to Amir when they were rescuing the man in front of her. Man... was he even a man anymore? He had the mind of one still, but not once the sun went down. Her eyes turned to the closest window, not really seeing in that moment. She instead pulled the blanket closer around herself. "I... I'm glad you're alive, Kyle." Jade hated how small her voice sounded right then and she cleared her throat to try and get rid of it. She turned her attention back to him from the window in time to see him get up and head to the fridge humming away quietly. Instinct spiked her adrenaline as he stood, but she quashed that right away. Didn't stop her heart from pumping harder, but she couldn't do much about that except breathing exercises. A convenience store burger disappeared into that strange mouth that made her instincts yell even louder. Instead, the woman pulled her knees to her chest to warm up quicker, taking another bite of her granola bar. What the runner hadn't expected was the cache of water, energy drinks, and manufactured sweets that he then found while snooping around the room they were both trapped in, though for different reasons. He offered her first choice of the limited options (which was really nice of him in this all for yourself world), her eyes drawn to the vents in his wrists befrore she looked up at him. "What the hell are those?" Let me save you. MONTY

.intoforest { position: relative; margin: 20px auto 0px; background: #606060; height: auto; padding: 40px; width: 480px; min-height: 300px; } .intoforest img { position: absolute; height: 250px; width: 480px; object-fit: cover; left: 0px; top: 0px; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(30%); } .ifoutline { position: relative; min-height: 300px; width: 400px; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; } .intoforest text { display: block; position: relative; color: #e7e7e7; padding: 30px; margin-top: 210px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; line-height: 180%; font-family: roboto; padding-bottom: 20px; } .intoforest lyrics { position: absolute; color: #d3e0e5; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 800; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 10px; width: 150px; line-height: 200%; padding: 20px; } .intoforest tag { display: block; margin: 20px auto; padding: 10px; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 5px; text-align: center; color: white; } Runnin Runnin Runnin from my heart "Usually being the keyword here?" She quirked her lips to the side in a half smile for a brief second as the doors to the elevator creaked and rattled shut. She leaned against the wall to get some of her weight off her feet indirectly. She was trying to hide it, but she was exhausted too. As far as Lil knew, she wasn't used to running around like this, even though it was so very familiar but just behind a pane of glass, there but out of reach. "But if you don't want me coming with, then I'll probably stay at the Tower the rest of the day." Maybe. Big, big maybe. Maybe she'd stay put, or maybe she'd overhear Lena quietly complain about something else they were needing and Lil would slip out into the streets and get it for the overworked doctor. It was the least the woman could do as thanks for all Lena had done for her since she'd arrived. "Given they're siezures caused by a different source then the virus, the medicine should help more then if it was because of this damned virus." How she knew this, she didn't know, but it was stashed somewhere in the muddled mess of an attic she called a brain, clearly. She glanced up at the tired man as he hoped someone had an energy drink or some coffee, and a thought started brewing in her head. She pushed off the wall, folding her arms over her chest as she did. "Or you can take a nap and I'll keep the others from bugging you?" Neither of those drinks were a good substitute for proper sleep, especially with the strain he put on his body since he got there. If she needed to, she'd 'pull rank' so to speak. Before she could think about it much more, though, the elevator dinged as they reached their floor. MONTY

.mysteries { position: relative; background: #2a2a2a; margin: 20px auto 0; width: 450px; overflow: hidden; } .mysteries-image-hold { position: relative; } .mysteries img { width: 450px; height: 350px; object-fit: cover; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(130%); } .mysteries-image-hold:before { content:""; background: rgb(61,2,2); background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(61,2,2,1) 0%, rgba(205,86,86,1) 52%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); position: absolute; width: 450px; height: 350px; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: multiply; } .mysteries-image-hold:after { background: rgb(42,42,42); background: linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(42,42,42,1) 0%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); content:""; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; height: 400px; width: 450px; left: 0px; } .mysteries-inner { padding: 60px; color: #ccc; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; line-height: 180%; } .mysteries-lyrics { position: absolute; padding: 0 30px; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; margin-top: -70px; z-index: 2; color: #eee; } .mysteries-lyrics b, .mysteries-lyrics-bottom b { font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #fff; } .mysteries-lyrics span { position: absolute; font-size: 100px; z-index: 1; color: #ccc; top: -22px; width: 450px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 80%; opacity: 0.2; text-align: left; left: -2px; } .mysteries-lyrics-bottom { position: relative; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; z-index: 2; color: #eee; text-align: right; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-right: 30px; float: right; } .mysteries-inner::first-letter { float: left; font-size: 50px; display: inline-block; padding: 30px; padding-top: 40px; color: #fff; } You can't save me... It's my time... The weird noise seemed... amused almost and she stared at someone she considered to be a friend for a long moment as he... laughed? Was that what that noise was? He was laughing? At a time like this? Besides that, what was so funny, exactly? Finally, he got control of himself, and she shook her head, pushing herself up again from the couch. A towel or a blanket would be awesome to find. The woman was absolutely frigid now that she was in a properly insulated environment, and the shaking was getting ridiculous. Made her feel weak and not really in control of her body. It was part of why when she'd started turning, her frustration and anger at her lack of control had given way to fear and outright terror. She never told anyone else though - it was a sensation that took up residence in her head, unwilling to leave. She never wanted to deal with that level of fear again. Jade paused, her head shooting to look at him when he told her just what lay out on the streets below, and if the Scorpion strained to listen over the rain, she could hear the large infected and its entourage as they worked their way down the road. She shuddered, but not from cold. Instead, she focused on grabbing a clean, fresh blanket and a granola bar and wrapped the blanket around her body before she sat down on the couch again, huddling in close to the material. "I'm not sure what else to ask... not with that horde out there." She finally admitted before she tore open the bit of ration she'd grabbed and with a hunger she hadn't realized was there, quickly finished it. She glanced at him, noticing how he avoided looking at her, but she didn't pull attention to it. Let me save you. MONTY

.intoforest { position: relative; margin: 20px auto 0px; background: #606060; height: auto; padding: 40px; width: 480px; min-height: 300px; } .intoforest img { position: absolute; height: 250px; width: 480px; object-fit: cover; left: 0px; top: 0px; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(30%); } .ifoutline { position: relative; min-height: 300px; width: 400px; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; } .intoforest text { display: block; position: relative; color: #e7e7e7; padding: 30px; margin-top: 210px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; line-height: 180%; font-family: roboto; padding-bottom: 20px; } .intoforest lyrics { position: absolute; color: #d3e0e5; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 800; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 10px; width: 150px; line-height: 200%; padding: 20px; } .intoforest tag { display: block; margin: 20px auto; padding: 10px; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 5px; text-align: center; color: white; } Runnin Runnin Runnin from my heart Her eyes narrowed at him when he admitted to being cut from the same cloth as Brecken. He was going to be trouble, if that was true. Still, she couldn't help but smile softly when he wanted to go up with her. She finished tucking her new materials into her pack carefully and hoisted the bag back up on her shoulders, looking up at him again. He dwarfed her, and that just added to 'Safe'. "So... someone's gotta stick with you to keep you out of trouble is what you're saying." Her gaze softened though, as she picked up on just how tired and overwhelmed the newcomer was with all the requests being thrown at him. Not only had he been vouched for, but a lot of their runners were now dead thanks to that abysmal run. It'd been a hell of a plan, but luck hadn't been with them once the stars came out. "I get it - doesn't help we're shorthanded now, what with last night..." She jerked her head toward the door to indicate she was ready to go and to quietly tell him where they needed to go. Her thumbs hooked behind the backpack straps for wont of something to do with them so she didn't gesticulate like she wanted to. As she studied him, she noted the exhaustion in his eyes, the tenseness to his shoulders, and the tightness of his jaw. How much had he been running himself ragged? She chuckled though, snapping her out of her assessment. "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, yeah." She said at the same time he did, shaking her head in amusement at the poor man who had somehow managed to survive so far. She was glad the stubborn man had made it so far. "Come on. Let's go get this to Lena before she kills our fearless leader." MONTY

.mysteries { position: relative; background: #2a2a2a; margin: 20px auto 0; width: 450px; overflow: hidden; } .mysteries-image-hold { position: relative; } .mysteries img { width: 450px; height: 350px; object-fit: cover; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(130%); } .mysteries-image-hold:before { content:""; background: rgb(61,2,2); background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(61,2,2,1) 0%, rgba(205,86,86,1) 52%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); position: absolute; width: 450px; height: 350px; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: multiply; } .mysteries-image-hold:after { background: rgb(42,42,42); background: linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(42,42,42,1) 0%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); content:""; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; height: 400px; width: 450px; left: 0px; } .mysteries-inner { padding: 60px; color: #ccc; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; line-height: 180%; } .mysteries-lyrics { position: absolute; padding: 0 30px; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; margin-top: -70px; z-index: 2; color: #eee; } .mysteries-lyrics b, .mysteries-lyrics-bottom b { font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #fff; } .mysteries-lyrics span { position: absolute; font-size: 100px; z-index: 1; color: #ccc; top: -22px; width: 450px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 80%; opacity: 0.2; text-align: left; left: -2px; } .mysteries-lyrics-bottom { position: relative; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; z-index: 2; color: #eee; text-align: right; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-right: 30px; float: right; } .mysteries-inner::first-letter { float: left; font-size: 50px; display: inline-block; padding: 30px; padding-top: 40px; color: #fff; } You can't save me... It's my time... Jade stared at the man once she set him down - well, more unintentionally dropped him because he was heavy - as he asked her 'what now?' She had no idea why he was asking her that question, since he was the one who threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and launched them up here into a different safe zone. "You're asking me that question, Kyle?" She finally asked as she sat down on the nearby couch. The bedroll gracelessly slid off and hit the floor by her feet, and she looked at it, as if it had commited some cardinal sin. Really? She'd barely sat down. "You're the one that yanked us up here. What the hell was that about anyways?" She gestured toward the opening that led outside in indication of what she meant. Out there. What the hell had he brought them up here for? And to top it off, she'd dropped the fabric he'd been trying to hand her to dry off when he hoisted her up off the ground, so that too was still left back with his pack as well. Let me save you. MONTY

.intoforest { position: relative; margin: 20px auto 0px; background: #606060; height: auto; padding: 40px; width: 480px; min-height: 300px; } .intoforest img { position: absolute; height: 250px; width: 480px; object-fit: cover; left: 0px; top: 0px; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(30%); } .ifoutline { position: relative; min-height: 300px; width: 400px; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; } .intoforest text { display: block; position: relative; color: #e7e7e7; padding: 30px; margin-top: 210px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; line-height: 180%; font-family: roboto; padding-bottom: 20px; } .intoforest lyrics { position: absolute; color: #d3e0e5; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 800; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 10px; width: 150px; line-height: 200%; padding: 20px; } .intoforest tag { display: block; margin: 20px auto; padding: 10px; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 5px; text-align: center; color: white; } Runnin Runnin Runnin from my heart She tisked at the fact he was going to face that madman and shook her head. She remembered the state Brecken was in - he shouldn't have been even out of bed, but the stubborn man was trying to provide for everyone under his care, like a decent human being. Her and Lena both had tried convincing him to stay in bed, or to at least take it easy, but the man hadn't listened. "Yeah, I know the state Brecken's in. I was helping Lena take care of him when he stumbled his way in." She dug out her own valuables to sell that she'd found, accepting the currency in turn before handing some back in exchange for what she needed. She took a moment to calm her frantic heart. She didn't want Kyle going, least of all on his own, but what was she supposed to do? Lil paused and looked up at Kyle as a thought struck her, "did you get the anti-seizure meds Lena asked for from Gazi, by the way? Or have you not done that yet?" They really needed those for their fearless leader. She tucked her things away, waiting to put her pack back on while she waited his answer. An idea was forming in her head, since she had an inkling on what half the folks gathered around wanted. Some of them would need more then one set of hands to bring back the supplies. "I can run it up to Lena if you'd rather not deal with her right now?" MONTY

.intoforest { position: relative; margin: 20px auto 0px; background: #606060; height: auto; padding: 40px; width: 480px; min-height: 300px; } .intoforest img { position: absolute; height: 250px; width: 480px; object-fit: cover; left: 0px; top: 0px; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(30%); } .ifoutline { position: relative; min-height: 300px; width: 400px; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; } .intoforest text { display: block; position: relative; color: #e7e7e7; padding: 30px; margin-top: 210px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; line-height: 180%; font-family: roboto; padding-bottom: 20px; } .intoforest lyrics { position: absolute; color: #d3e0e5; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 800; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 10px; width: 150px; line-height: 200%; padding: 20px; } .intoforest tag { display: block; margin: 20px auto; padding: 10px; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 5px; text-align: center; color: white; } Runnin Runnin Runnin from my heart Almost as soon as they stepped into the hallway that led to the shop, Crane was swamped with requests and as she looked around, Lil could see others ruminating over something or other - probably with problems that needed dealt with but they had no way to do it themselves. She threw her hands up and waved them to get people's attention. "Guys! We just got back! Give Crane a minute to offload what he's got!" She highly doubted many were going to listen to her, but it was worth a shot. The small woman grabbed Crane's hand and tugged him over to the shop keep so he could do what he needed befores he turned back to him and their conversation. "You've proven capable, and from what I heard, Spike's vouched for you, and since he's backed you, a lot of people are gonna want your help too... so you're gonna be busy for a while yet." Lil wished others thought her that capable, but her size and lack of memory made it near impossible for some to want her to leave the tower. They, herself included, had no idea what she could and couldn't do, but that deep down, rooted in her soul need to help gnawed at her, not letting her sit still and listen to those that worried about her. When Rais was mentioned, her face went pale and her body stiffened. "Rais is a bad, bad man, Kyle. What the hell are you needing to do that involves anything relating to that monster in a human skin?" Strong words, and she meant every single one of them as she met his eyes full on. Despite her not remembering much if anything, the intelligence and compassion and concern for this man she just met not even a half hour earlier were clear in terra cotta colored eyes. Of course, she had no idea that they had shifted to a more reddish color - when she looked in the mirror, she saw sunken, tired hazel or brown eyes with sometimes a hint of green sprinkled in for variety. MONTY

.mysteries { position: relative; background: #2a2a2a; margin: 20px auto 0; width: 450px; overflow: hidden; } .mysteries-image-hold { position: relative; } .mysteries img { width: 450px; height: 350px; object-fit: cover; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(130%); } .mysteries-image-hold:before { content:""; background: rgb(61,2,2); background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(61,2,2,1) 0%, rgba(205,86,86,1) 52%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); position: absolute; width: 450px; height: 350px; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: multiply; } .mysteries-image-hold:after { background: rgb(42,42,42); background: linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(42,42,42,1) 0%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); content:""; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; height: 400px; width: 450px; left: 0px; } .mysteries-inner { padding: 60px; color: #ccc; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; line-height: 180%; } .mysteries-lyrics { position: absolute; padding: 0 30px; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; margin-top: -70px; z-index: 2; color: #eee; } .mysteries-lyrics b, .mysteries-lyrics-bottom b { font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #fff; } .mysteries-lyrics span { position: absolute; font-size: 100px; z-index: 1; color: #ccc; top: -22px; width: 450px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 80%; opacity: 0.2; text-align: left; left: -2px; } .mysteries-lyrics-bottom { position: relative; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; z-index: 2; color: #eee; text-align: right; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-right: 30px; float: right; } .mysteries-inner::first-letter { float: left; font-size: 50px; display: inline-block; padding: 30px; padding-top: 40px; color: #fff; } You can't save me... It's my time... That weightless feeling as they entered a brief freefall would have been exhilerating any other time, but right now? Jade was terrified, confused, and angry about how he was handling her. Her heart slammed into his shoulder and his ear with quick, harsh beats, and when he went silent, her hands dug into his skin for support and as an anchor. She had no idea where they were going or entirely what was going on, but the demolisher's roar told her enough to realize that Kyle was trying to save her ass. Before she could do anything about that realization though, he'd shot them into another safe zone high up and away from the streets, where they'd have cover from the rain and the pack of monstrosities stalking down below - or as much stalking as a demolisher could do, at any rate. Once they landed, and the smell and sound of sizzling flesh hit her, he stumbled, unceremoniously dumping her to the ground before collapsing to the floor. The light hurt him. That's right. The roar had been of pain, not that haunting, shiver inducing roar survivors swore let the night hunter find his prey. Panting, gasping breaths tore at something inside her before the once-man scrambled into the building and away from the lights that kept the horrors at bay. She laid there in a heap for a long moment, eyes scanning where he'd disappeared to, before her aching, sore body pushed itself upright and before she could think much of it, she rushed to her feet and inside. Years of training lent her strength as she hooked her arms under his arm pits and hauled him backwards with an initial inertia inducing pull. She was so much smaller then him that she knew her dragging him wasn't going to feel good, but she wanted to somehow help. "Shut up." He didn't need to apologize for more then scaring the crap out of her, and right now, she wasn't having it as she pulled him further and further from the UV lights that kept her safe but left him without his gear - that was still down on the street, inaccessible for either of them right that second. Lightning laced the sky with light somewhere over the city, and a few seconds later, thunder filled in the void left behind. They were safe. That's what mattered. Let me save you. MONTY

.mysteries { position: relative; background: #2a2a2a; margin: 20px auto 0; width: 450px; overflow: hidden; } .mysteries-image-hold { position: relative; } .mysteries img { width: 450px; height: 350px; object-fit: cover; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(130%); } .mysteries-image-hold:before { content:""; background: rgb(61,2,2); background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(61,2,2,1) 0%, rgba(205,86,86,1) 52%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); position: absolute; width: 450px; height: 350px; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: multiply; } .mysteries-image-hold:after { background: rgb(42,42,42); background: linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(42,42,42,1) 0%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); content:""; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; height: 400px; width: 450px; left: 0px; } .mysteries-inner { padding: 60px; color: #ccc; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; line-height: 180%; } .mysteries-lyrics { position: absolute; padding: 0 30px; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; margin-top: -70px; z-index: 2; color: #eee; } .mysteries-lyrics b, .mysteries-lyrics-bottom b { font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #fff; } .mysteries-lyrics span { position: absolute; font-size: 100px; z-index: 1; color: #ccc; top: -22px; width: 450px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 80%; opacity: 0.2; text-align: left; left: -2px; } .mysteries-lyrics-bottom { position: relative; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; z-index: 2; color: #eee; text-align: right; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-right: 30px; float: right; } .mysteries-inner::first-letter { float: left; font-size: 50px; display: inline-block; padding: 30px; padding-top: 40px; color: #fff; } You can't save me... It's my time... They stared at each other for a a long time, though in reality, it was merely seconds before he cleared his throat, as if to say something, but then his head whipped up and to the side far too fast for her eyes to immediately keep up - almost like a lag spike on a web site with a slow connection. Now that he wasn't directly focused on her, her brain let her know of the approach of something big and heavy, and her heart rate spiked again. Big, heavy, and accompanied by a choir of screaming, howling virals. Shit. Of course, Jade's mind had barely comprehended what was coming before Kyle apologized to her. Her eyes focused on the movement of him stepping closer, but before she could fully get a word out, he'd grabbed her and swung her over his shoulders like she weighed nothing at all, and her indignation let itself be known through a startled yelp. "What the hell are you doing, Crane?! Put me down!" She squirmed and thrashed, but his grip was firm on her as they exited the building and back out into the deluge of rain. God, she hated this time of year. She used to love it - a break from piercing heat and much needed water for the region that struggled for fresh water. Now? It gave the monsters on the street more cover, more time out to hunt and thin their numbers even more. Granted, they still got hurt, if the crack and sizzle of the exposed skin on Kyle's body were any indication. She could only imagine a truly dark and stormy day being even more of a boon to them. The Scorpion mentally shuddered at the thought, but it was there and gone before the familiar feeling of weightlessness made itself known, and his muscles bunched and coiled under her as he braced and jumped. His arm shot out, and if there'd been any color to her face, it was now gone as she watched his arm open up and a tentacle came flying out, quickly getting them up and out of the way of danger. And that roar right in her ears. Her hands clamped over them to drown out the horryfing noise, and defensive anger rose in her own chest, but she tried to tamp it down. He was in pain because of the UV lights - purposefully putting himself in the way of harm to protect her from something far worse on street level. She was still scared, though. So very scared - but she didn't let it show. "Fuck, that hurts, Crane!" Let me save you. MONTY

.intoforest { position: relative; margin: 20px auto 0px; background: #606060; height: auto; padding: 40px; width: 480px; min-height: 300px; } .intoforest img { position: absolute; height: 250px; width: 480px; object-fit: cover; left: 0px; top: 0px; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(30%); } .ifoutline { position: relative; min-height: 300px; width: 400px; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; } .intoforest text { display: block; position: relative; color: #e7e7e7; padding: 30px; margin-top: 210px; text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; line-height: 180%; font-family: roboto; padding-bottom: 20px; } .intoforest lyrics { position: absolute; color: #d3e0e5; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 800; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 10px; width: 150px; line-height: 200%; padding: 20px; } .intoforest tag { display: block; margin: 20px auto; padding: 10px; font-family: overpass; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid #d3e0e5; background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 5px; text-align: center; color: white; } Runnin Runnin Runnin from my heart With all her surprising strength, she still lost her balance and fell on her butt, giggling still at the thrill of the run they'd just done. She finally pushed herself to her feet, dusting herself off before waving to people she knew. She then turned her hazel eyes to the man who escorted her back to the Tower and gave a half smile, her chest mildly heaving. Lil nodded at his suggestion, before laughing a little. "Yeah, before they come find me themselves." She paused, tilting her head to the side slightly as she thought about his question. Without even thinking about it, her feet started moving her toward the shop in question. She finally shot back over her shoulder before she completely forgot to answer him. "Not entirely sure. I need more materials for molotovs at least. You?" Now that he wasn't being a grumpy pants, he was really attractive to her, especially when he laughed and smiled. She wanted to get to know him, but already, there were people around also wanting his attention. He was making a hell of an impression, and she was glad for it! It gave Kyle a chance to be looked after as much as he looked after others. It just also meant he was in high demand, so she needed to make their little time together count. MONTY

.mysteries { position: relative; background: #2a2a2a; margin: 20px auto 0; width: 450px; overflow: hidden; } .mysteries-image-hold { position: relative; } .mysteries img { width: 450px; height: 350px; object-fit: cover; filter: grayscale(100%) contrast(130%); } .mysteries-image-hold:before { content:""; background: rgb(61,2,2); background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(61,2,2,1) 0%, rgba(205,86,86,1) 52%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); position: absolute; width: 450px; height: 350px; z-index: 1; mix-blend-mode: multiply; } .mysteries-image-hold:after { background: rgb(42,42,42); background: linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(42,42,42,1) 0%, rgba(0,212,255,0) 100%); content:""; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; height: 400px; width: 450px; left: 0px; } .mysteries-inner { padding: 60px; color: #ccc; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; line-height: 180%; } .mysteries-lyrics { position: absolute; padding: 0 30px; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; margin-top: -70px; z-index: 2; color: #eee; } .mysteries-lyrics b, .mysteries-lyrics-bottom b { font-weight: 900; letter-spacing: 3px; color: #fff; } .mysteries-lyrics span { position: absolute; font-size: 100px; z-index: 1; color: #ccc; top: -22px; width: 450px; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 80%; opacity: 0.2; text-align: left; left: -2px; } .mysteries-lyrics-bottom { position: relative; font-family: martel sans; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-weight: 300; z-index: 2; color: #eee; text-align: right; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-right: 30px; float: right; } .mysteries-inner::first-letter { float: left; font-size: 50px; display: inline-block; padding: 30px; padding-top: 40px; color: #fff; } You can't save me... It's my time... Dark eyes watched the man across from her as he worked his way across the room, looking here and there for God knew what. The longer she was in light, in his presence, the less fearful she felt. He avoided looking at her when she asked her question and it worried her what that could have meant. Still, she waited, before he sighed - a weird sound without all the clothing and the apparent difference in his throat structure. Her face paled though, at the unexpected origin of his burns and scars, and her hand flew up to her face again, her mouth open in shock. He then rooted around in a chest near where he'd been originally, pulling out material. What was he up to? It dawned on her, slowly, as he approached her, hand extended with the material, that he was trying to find something to help her stubborn ass warm up. Originally, Jade's attention was fully on the material, her brain struggling to process what was happening, before she carefully reached out and grabbed it, pulling it close. She lifted her head to look at him, to thank him, and to show she was listening - that's what one did after all when someone spoke, right? Big mistake. Big, big mistake. Pockmarks, scratches, gashes, and those hideous, snaking burns. Her brain was vaguely aware he was talking, and latched onto what he was saying, except... his mouth... Her fear spiked again, adrenaline surging, and unfortunately, she was as far back as she could get. What would happen if she ran? He was partly between her and the door, and her eyes remained fixed on that splitting mouth that reminded some part of the Scorpion of a lethal snake. Sun, fire, water... none of it worked, and judging by the healing skin, there wasn't much that could kill him by the hand of man either. Fuck. She was going to die, but internally, something killed her more at the look of fear in his eyes as he realized he'd done something he shouldn't have. Still, her eyes remained on his mouth, her heart painfully trying to escape her chest. Let me save you. MONTY